Printing apparatus.



1 `L. M. TODD. PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29,1906A Patented Jan. 24, 1911.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

- n'ucnloz L. M'. TODD.

PRINTING APPARATUS. uPLIoATI'oN FILED 1.111.211.1906.

Glvi kwamen Patented Jan. 24, 1911.

2 SHBETS-SHEBT 2.

, l w-mloz 1.. y ,1,

'.45 With. the limiting or UNITED srnilnsjarnnr onmen- ILIIBAN'US` TODD, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 Gr. W. TODD & COMPANY,

. F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, FIRM.

PRINTING ArPAnATUs.

' Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 24, 1911.

Application filed January, 1906. Se1a1.No. 298,400.

To all whom fit 'may concern:

lle it known that I, LiaNUs M. Tono, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain' v new and useful Improvements in Printing Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to-bea full, clear, and exact description of the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming' a part ofl Vl5l and other commercial papers or instruments With a distinguishing,- or limiting mark for 'preventing fraudulent alteration thereof.

The' particular object ofthe vpresent invention is to provide an improved device for.

2'0 marking various papers of the. above description so that they will have an unalter- .able limiting mark for indicating the limitof value or time beyond which the instrument will be void, and also to provide animproved stamp whereby marks designating` the proper limit-ing' amount may be convenient-ly and eifectually applied to checks, drafts or other papers. y l.

Tothese and other ends the invention consists in certain new` and useful improvements and combinations oflparts, all as will be more fully explained, the novel features b'eing pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:- Fig'ure 1 represents a centra-l` vertical section of a printing' device constructed in accordance with' my invention; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same; Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the device, the parts above the line l-l of Fig. l being omitted; Fig. L is a fltglnentary view 'of thedevice showing the stop for controlling the operation of the hiking pad and platen, and Fig. 'represents a portion of a check distinguishing niark applied thereto.

I have shown one form of a printino' device for apl'ilying the 'limiting or distinguishing mark embodying' my invention, comprising a hollow base'l having' guides or Ways 2 thereon to receive a reoinrocatory slide 3,'the latter' having recelitacles for an inking pad 4 near one end and a snit-able platen 5 near its other end, a slot G being formed in the base to permit operation of a or noise.

' downwardly-projcoting arm 7, and an abutment '8, said armand abutment being attached to and movable With the slide ,3. A. sprmg 9 has one end attached to this arm 7 and its other end to a part of the base, as by a \scre\v 10, the said spring normally operatmg to move the slide from the left toward the right, as shown in Fig. 1, a buffer 11 being,l provided at a suitable point to cooperate With a part of the slide after its release to arrest its movement lWithout', shock l To the under side of the base is pivoted a stop 12 havingashoulder l'ada ted to engage behind the arm 7 on the Sllde.

to hold the latter in inking position against the action of its spring 9, 'an incline 14 being formed at one side of the shoulder to produce a latching action of the stop When the slide is moved into inking position. This stopl is pivoted to the base at 15, and hasone end of aspring 16 attached thereto .close to its pivot, the latter having its opposite end .connected to an extended arm 17 formed on the free end of a releasing` member 18. This releasing member serves to'knock oft or disengage the stop 1.2 from the retaining arm on the slide to permit the latter to move from inking to printing position, and in its-present form the releasing member is piv.

greater distance from the pivot 15'V than is' the shoulder 13 on the stop'12, and tlie purpose of this Will be described in connect-ion with the operation of the device. The opposite end of the releasmg member is pro- -vidcd with a 4cam surface 21 to` cooperate with a dog 22. the latter being pivoted on the shaft 23 and 4extended thp Jigh a 'Slot 24 'in' the base, its free end having a spring 25 attached thereto for retaining it in co ra'- tive relation With the cam onl the releasing member. y i

The shaft 23 also supports the movable die or stamp carrier 2G, the latter having a projection 27 thereon-adapted to cooperate with u by the latterY will be operated by the movement of 'th'estam carrier. Any suitable form of stampcou d be employed'm 'connec- -a similar projection 28 on .the dog 22 where- ,i

tion with the slide and its cooperating parts, but it is preferable to employ the improved iorm herein shovvn, Whichcompriscs a relatively fixed center 29 having a printing 'die 30 on its lower face which contains a suitable aperture 33 in the stamp carrier. A wedge or plunger 34 is fitted' into an aperstamp carrier.-

,venlently operated by. the use of a Screw Aso ture formed axially of the center piece, and is operated by a suitable screw 34 for spreading lthe balls 31 into the transverse recesses or apertures 35 formed in the Walls of the This screw. may be condriver or other tool applied through the upper end of the aperture 83 of the carrier, the handle 36 being removably attachedto the stamp carrier to permit adjustment of the Wedge.

Surrounding the center piece for the prints ing stamp. or die is an adjustable die-supporting ring made up of a revoluble annular plate 37 carrying a ldial V38 on its upper surface, and having an outercasing 39 applied thereto for supporting an appropriate annular printing. die 40 surrounding the center.

die 30 and arranged tocoperate therewith,

theouter adjustable die having numerals or other appropriatecharacters thereon adapt` ed to cooperate with the center die at different points in the adjustment of the ring. The annular plate is fitted to revolve on the center piece 29 as a journal, and in order to produce sullicient resistance t0 the movement of the adjustable ring for the purpose of preventing its turning While printing, I pre' 'fer to interpose a spring Lt1 between this ring and a'partV of the center piece, and this Will cause the oiiter revoluble ring .to press the.

Wear plate 42 against the corresponding part or shoulder of. the die carrier with sufficient force so thatthe friction produced thereby vvilljl prevent accidental movement of the ring. Asuitable pointer 43 is attached to the carrying arm 26 for indicating on the dial the particular numeral or character on the outer 'adjustable die Which is in coperative relation with the center die'.

In employing the printing device 4above described for a plying a limiting mark to a iimain check o other instrument or'the purpose of it as to the amount for which it may be payable in such a .Wayes'to render fraudulent alteration practically impossible, 1t is 'preferable to employ an outer revoluble dieA provided with a series-of progressively arranged characters representing different amounts, land a non-revolubl l center die ll having a suitable, indicator which preferably occupies at all timesa j'uedetcrmincd rela-- tion to a check positioning gage en adjustable Ilongitudinally ot' the base and heldin adjusted position by screws 47 so that the impression ot the indicator Will bear a given relation to the paper or instrument to which it is applied, so that in order to alter the limiting mark it would be necessary to change every number or character in the impression formed by the outer die, for it is obvious that it' the impression formed by the center die is shifted around so that it indica-tes a different amount from what wasA indicated at the original impression, its altered relation to the paper would be immediately detected. An impression from such a die is shown in Fig. 5, comprising a comparatively heavy ring Which isa complete circle, except for an opening equal to the height of each of the consecutively or progressi vely-arranged characters' in the outer die, converging lines pointing toward thisA opening and having a suitable inscription such as Not over arranged between them which leads'to the selected character or numeral in the outer die, ythe impression shown in Fig. 5, for instance, indicating that the check is drawnt'or an amount of ten dollars, While the limiting mark' .indicates that the highest amount for which the check can be valued is ten dollars, the mark thus limiting the 'check so that the stipulated amount therein cannot be changed for a higher one, Without detection. In ap plying the limiting mark to a check or other paper of the same general description, it is advantageous to apply the mark so that the indicator extends parallel to the Wording in the body-of the paper, and if it occurs thatthevindicator of the mark on a check pre sented for payment should extend in any direction other than that described, the inconsistency would cause a careful examination of the instrument before it would be honored.

Of course the impression shown in Fig. 5 has been made with a stamp provided with numerals 'which serve as limitlng char.- acters for commercialpapers, but it will be' understood that, by substitution-of an ap propriate setl of printing dies Withcharacters for the days, months land years, the machine may be used to advantage asa ticket stamp for indicating the time limit. beyond which railroad and other tickets would not be good. In connection With a stamp of 'this character employed `for limiting the amounts of checks, or other ne otiable'instruments, it is desirable in or er that the impression made thereby may .-be easily read,

to arrange the numerals. or other indicating characters on radial lines and when numerals are employed to dispose themin acircular row so that the unit 'figures of eajch will fall in the outermost column. rl`his arrangement not only locates the. unitV figures in a particular place in respect to the cireuiiiiterence of the stamp but it-.iiisures the symmetrical positioning of'all the figures so that they are right side up in proper alinement Vwith the cooperating indicating or amount limiting impression part of the stamp, and this is true Whether the amount is printedin one,tvvo or three digits. It will, also be observed that the numerals, when positioned as described above extend radially of the stanipthe digits of those numerals composed of two or more of them being arranged side by side so that they may be read in the radial lines of the stampas it is revolved` to bring them in the horizontal position. lhe adjustable indicator also eX- teiids radially of the stamp and when the latter is moved into juxtaposition to aI particular numeral its inscriptioin together with the digit, or digits, comprising said Iiumeral may be read in the same line. This coordination of the numerals and the designating mark or indicator is particularly de sirable in a printing stamp of this character as it en ables the reader to' observe at a glance the two important parts of the stamped impression and obviates any turning or annee essai-y handling of a' check or draft to obtain an observation'of thevnu'merals of the limiting amount,

The printing device comprising the present embodiment of my invention isset in operative position by movin' its movement toward its set or inling posi tion, the arm 7 thereon will cooperate' With the inclineI 14 on the pivoted support 12,

causing the latter to be displaced laterally until the sa id arm has passed the shoulder der to cooperate with the arm 7 and hold the .slide in hiking-position., 4The printing'die or stamp may thenbe brought. into engageapplyiiig sl'ifticieiit force to the handle 3G,

and in this wav the stampor dies are-sup`y plied .with ink. As the stamp carrier operates about the shaft 23 the shoulder 27 of the carrier will bear against the projection 28 'onthe dog 22,- ycausing the latter to swing 4back against the actioiiof its spring 25,-and

aswthc log traverses the 'cai'n 2l on the `re .leasing member, it will,` permit the shoulder 2() on the latter to engage t'he'l'ocking shoul der 13 on the stop, and as one end ofthe spring, 1G is connected close to the pivot 15 of the stop while its other end connected to tlie'releasii'ig Vmember beyond the shoulder 20., it will hai-c d greater leverage-on thev shoulder ofthe rel aging member than on that the slide to the left against the action o its s ring 9, a 'liaiulie 4.4 beingprovided for tiis purpose. As the slide approaches the limitl of cause the dog 22 coperating with the cam' 2l to return the' releasing member to normal position, retracting the, shoulder 20 from lts position in front o'f'the arm 7 on. the

slide, and asl thejshoulder on the releasing member is withdrawn from its position in front of this arm, the stop 12 will be held out of coperative relation with the` said arm, for the reason lthat the shoulder 13 thereon is somewhat beyond the shoulder 20 on the releasing member, and after the arm 7 has moved into engagement with the shoulderQO, the shoulder '13 is beyond the forward edge of the arm 7 and therefore cannot engage it, so that the moment the shoulder 20 clears the arm 7, the slide will moveftoward the left under action of its spring 9, bringing the platen 5 into printing lposition opposite to the stamp, and when thestamp is brought down while` the check or other paper rests above the platen, it will receive an inked impression. A i

' The herein described invention provides' effective means for protecting various kinds of yinstruments or papers from fraudulent alteration, for by arranging the mark on the instruments so that the indicator is ar ranged in coperat-ive relationwit-h a particular character of a series arranged consecutively Or'prOgreSSiVeIy-and representing amounts of dierent values, alteration'of the mark would necessitate either shifting the indicator or a change-of everynumeral or character in the outer impression, as al] of the characters of the series are'printed at each impression, although only one of the amounts 1s designated in each mark.

A task of changing all of the characters ot' the series would be so diiiicult as either to dis# courage an attempt at alteration, or if attemptedwould probably reveal flaws'that would lead to detection, and if the indicator for designating a particular 'character oi the series is arranged in predetermined relation tothe check or instrument, alteration of its relation to the instrument would cause an inconsistency that would lead to detection. However, a large measure tif-protection is aiorded by the mark whether or not the indicator bears a predetermined relation to the instrument to Ywhich it is applied, and

this is truel also in regard'to the banden ring which out or positively excludesall of the characters of' the series, excepting the particular one designated. [lie particuflar arrangemei'it olf thepart-s of the printing stamp for producing such an impression 1'en.

ders the adjustable die or type conveniently 1 accessible to the operator in selecting the 'appropriate ,character which is to be used as a limit-ing or distii'igiiisliing mark, while thecopcrative relation of the center die lor stamp and the check guide or gage it' the latter is used, provides convenientnieaiis 'for positioning the check or instrument in print-l 'that the latter Will produce clear impressions at each operation, as the use of inking ribbons which tend to obscure and destroy the clearness of the'impressions is avoided.; and

i the novel devi/cesv forv automatically .controls to Vbring the platen into printing land these operations take place Wit out relingthe operation of the slide hold the inking pad in operative position until the stamp has been inked, when, bythe operation of the stamp, the slide Will be released osition,

Iquiring attention fromv the operator. Of course, instead ofproviding both an inking device and platen on the slide, the latter may vcarry only one of these devices so that it will bring either the inking device or platen into coperative relation with the stamp, the automatic latch serving to retain' the slide in set position until the proper momentnvheii` the part on the slide is to perform its function in relation tothe stamp, the 'releasing member preferably controlled by the stamp,

operating to release the slide. The peculiar stamp'when used for .the

' -purpose, of applying a limiting mark to 'checks' and similar instruments for indieating the, highest amount for which the check may be valued is easily readable and is practically unalterable, for by printing the ent-ire series of characters representing progressively arranged amounts Will cause a break inl the continuity of the series should one of them be altered Without altering all the Vcharacters of the series; and by using lan appropriate inscription as a par-t or in connection with the indicator gives an un'- mistalable meaning to the character designated, as distinguished from the remaining lcharacters of the Series that are excluded.

I claim as my invention: 1. In a printin device, with a supportin ase and a mcvable printing stamp, of a s ide on 'the base, an inking stamp, for releasing thesaid latch.

vthe combination pad and aplatcn tliei'eoh, Vsaid slide being movable to bring either the platen or pad into coi'iperative relation With the stamp and means operated by the stam p for controlling the movement of the slide.

2. In a printing device, the combination with a suitable base, a movable slide thereon carrying an iiiking pad and a platen, of a iirinting stamp movably supported above the slide having a member movable therelwith, means for holding said slide in inking position coperating with said. member to release the slide when the stamp is moved intoengageinent therewith, and devices -for subsequently mov-ing said slide to position the platen thereon in printing position. 3. Ina printing device., the combination with'a 'suitable base, of a print-ing stamp supported on the base, a slide carrying an .inking device and a platen adapted to cooperate alternately `With said stamp, a latch for holding. said slide in one position', and a releasing member for disengaging said latch and permitting said slide to move toward an opposite position.

, 4. In a printing'device, the. combination with a suitable base, ofa movable printing stamp supported on the base, a slide carrying an inking deviceand a platen each adapted to coperate alternately with said stamp, means normally tending to move said slide towardprint-ing posit-ion, a latchL for holding the slide in inking position, and means controlled by the operationof said In a printing device, the combination with a b'ase,5and a printing stamp supported on the base, of a movable slide having a portion adapted to cooperate With said stamp, of a latch operating automatically when the slide fis moved in one direction to hold in a predetermined, position, and a member for releasing saidl latch to periniti said slide to be moved into a diiijerent position.

..In a printing device, the' combination with a base, and a printingstamp mounted thereon, of a movable slide on the base havinn- 1virtions adapted to coopera-te at difterent tiineswith said stamp, a projecting arm movable with said slide, a latch having an inclined portion arranged' in the -path of said arm for permitting the latter to pass the latch When moving in'one direction and 'a shoulder for prevent-ing motion of said arm in a reverse direction, and a releasing member having a shoulder arranged to disengage said shoulder on the latch from said arm, and toluengage the latter retain the slide, retraction of the' releasing member serving to disengage lits shoulderfromthe. cooperating arm on the slide.

7 .-In a printing device, the combination with a base, and a printing stamp idapted. to coperate therewith, of a movable slidel on the base'liaving portions adapted to co 4 on said base having portions adapted to co- I operate at different times Withsaid stamp and provided with a controlling pro]ection, a pivoted stop having a-shoulder arranged to coperate with said projection to prevent movement of said slide'infone direction, and a releasing member havin 4a shoulder arranged opposite to the sliou der on said stop, the projection-engaging surfaces of said shoulders being relatively oii'set in the direction of'movement of said projection, and a spring connecting said stop and releasing member and applying 'its/force in such ratio that the shoulder on the releasing member will disengage the shoulder on the stop from' the said projection.

9. In a printing device, the combination with abase, and a printing stamp mounted thereon, of a movable platen arranged to coperate with said stamp, a latch for holding said platen in a predetermined position, a releasing member for operating said latch, and adeviee controlled by the operation of tlieprinting stamp for operating said releasing member.

10. In a printing device, the combinat-ion with a suitable base, and a printing stamp movable thereon, of a movable platen arranged to coperate with said stamp and arranged to be moved into and out of cooperative 'relation therewith, a latch for holding said platen in a predetermined position relatively to the stamp, a releasing member for the latch having a cam thereon, and a dog controlled by the operation vof the stamp for `controlling operation of said in ember.'

11. -In a printing device, the combination with a suitable base, and a printing stamp pivoted thereon, of a movable slide having a portion thereof arranged to be moved into and out of coperative .relation With saidl stamp, a stop for holding said slide in predetermined position relatively to the stamp, a 'releasing member for said stop, a dog pivoted concentrically with said stamp andl and other negotiable instruments, comprising a stamp composed of a center part and a surrounding body, one of said parts being i'ovolubly tuljustablc relatively to the other, the body being provided with a series of numerals designating different monetary values arranged in a circular row and dis posed upright to be read in ahorizontal line extending radially of the stamp, the

ynumeral indicating the lowest amount being one ot the digits, the other numerals' indicating amounts in teiisand'hundreds being arranged With their unit digits in circular alinenient, Aand printing surfaces eX- tending transversely on the center part of the stamp including a limiting inscription adapted to be located in alinemeiit with one or another of the numerals.

13. A stamp for printing limiting amounts upon .negotiable instruments comprising a series of printing characters designating .various amounts ofvalue for which an instrument may be made out arranged conseeutively in an annular row, and an adjustable center piece arranged within said row having a printing surface located at the inner side of the roivand sewingl to exclude all but one of the severallcharacte f comprising said row and also provided vi, n other print-ing surfaces extending transversely of the center piece and adapted to indicate the selection of the non-excluded character.

14. In a printing stamp, the combination with a die carrier having a shoulder and a center die projecting beyond the latter, of arevoluble type ring surroundii'ig the center die having a bearing portion adapted to engage said shoulder and a spring interposed between the type ring and die for yieidingly holding the former in cngageinent with the shoulder. i

15. A device for protecting checks, drafts or. other negotiable instruments comprising a stamp for printing upon such instrument characters limiting the amount for which it is payable, embodying a stamp body having.

ioo

a circular opening surrounded by numerals i arranged concentric thereto andin progressive order, the numeral indicating the lowest amount being one of the digits and the numerals indicating larger amounts being multiples of five, and a centerpiece adjustably arranged Within the stamp body and provided With printing surfaces which bound the inner edges of the numerals with the exception of the space occupied by a single numeral, said surfaces indicating the selecof the remainder.

LIBANUS TODD.

tion of one of the numerals by the exclusion Witnesses:

G. WILL-ann RICH, .CLARENCE A. BATiiMAN. 

